Transcription

1 NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE JUNE 8, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director, Research Rachel Weisel, Communications Associate RECOMMENDED CITATION: Pew Research Center, June 2015, Support for Same-Sex Marriage at Record High, but Key Segments Remain Opposed

2 1 As the Supreme Court prepares to decide a key case involving states requirements to recognize same-sex marriage, public support for allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally continues its rapid rise: A 57%-majority of Americans now favor allowing same-sex marriage and 39% oppose. As recently as five years ago, more opposed (48%) same-sex marriage than supported it (42%). Support for Same-Sex Marriage Rises Across-the- Board, Partisan Divide Persists % who say they allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally All Adults % Favor by Party This is the highest level of support measured for samesex marriage in nearly 20 years of Pew Research Center polling of the issue Oppose Favor Democrat Independent Yet even as support for samesex marriage has increased among nearly all segments in the public, some groups remain broadly opposed to gay marriage. (See detailed demographic breakdowns and long-term trends on same-sex marriage.) Survey conducted May 12-18, Republican The Pew Research Center survey, conducted May among 2,002 adults, finds that partisans are as divided on this issue as ever: Today, 65% of Democrats and an identical percentage of independents favor gay marriage; only about one third (34%) of Republicans do so. Growing shares of all three groups support same-sex-marriage, yet the differences between Democrats and Republicans are as wide today as they were a decade ago.

3 2 However, with same-sex marriage legal in 36 states (and the District of Columbia) and the possibility of a Supreme Court decision on its nationwide status, Republicans (72%) are just as likely as Democrats (72%) and independents (74%) to say that it is inevitable that same-sex marriage will be legally recognized. Partisans Agree: Legal Recognition Inevitable % who say legal recognition of same-sex marriage is inevitable The fault lines on the issue of same-sex marriage extend beyond party. Other substantial cleavages include race, generation, religious beliefs and familiarity with people who are gay or lesbian. Total Republican Democrat Independent As is the case with other demographic groups, African Americans have become more supportive of same-sex marriage over the last decade. However, overall views are mixed: 51% of blacks oppose gays and lesbians marrying legally, while 41% are Survey conducted May 12-18, in favor. Majorities of whites (59%) and Hispanics (56%) now favor same-sex marriage. The racial differences in these opinions largely persist even when taking into account other factors, such as age, religious affiliation and attendance at religious services. A key component of the shifting attitudes on this issue is the strong support for gay rights among younger Americans. Younger generations have long been more accepting of homosexuality and of same-sex marriage than older generations, and as Millennials (who are currently ages 18-34) have entered adulthood, those views have influenced overall public opinion.

4 3 Nearly three-quarters of Millennials (73%) currently favor legal recognition, with fully 45% saying they strongly favor it. A more modest majority (59%) of Gen Xers (ages 35-50) also support samesex marriage, while opinions among Baby Boomers (ages 51-69) are divided (45% favor, 48% oppose); among those in the Silent Generation (ages 70-87), just 39% favor samesex marriage, while 53% oppose. Current Views of Same-Sex Marriage Allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally (%) Oppose Favor Total One of the strongest factors underlying views of same-sex marriage is religion, and the sense that homosexuality is in conflict with one s religious beliefs. White evangelical Protestants stand out for their deep opposition to samesex marriage: Just 27% favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry, while 70% oppose it (43% strongly oppose); by contrast, majorities of both Catholics (56%) and white mainline Protestants (62%) support same-sex marriage, along with an overwhelming majority (85%) of the religiously unaffiliated. And among the one-third (33%) of Americans who feel there is a lot of conflict between their religious beliefs and homosexuality, opposition to same-sex marriage outweighs support by more than two-to-one (70% oppose, 27% favor); fully 76% of those who see no such conflict favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. Millennial Generation X Boomer Silent White Black Hispanic Post-grad College grad Some college HS or less White evang Prot White mainline Prot Catholic Unaffiliated Conflict between religious beliefs and homosexuality? A lot of conflict 70 A little conflict 41 No conflict Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks do not include Hispanics; Hispanics are of any race.

5 4 But just as religious objections undergird much of the opposition to same-sex marriage, personally knowing people who are gay or lesbian is strongly linked to support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriages, as many people who have changed their minds on this issue stated in a 2013 Pew Research Center survey. The new survey finds that nearly nine-in-ten Americans (88%) know someone who is gay or lesbian, with 28% saying they know a lot of gays or lesbians. These percentages are little changed from two years ago, but in 1993 a smaller majority (61%) said they knew someone who is gay. Today, about three-quarters (73%) of those who say they personally know a lot of gays and lesbians favor same-sex marriage. A majority (59%) of those who know no gays or lesbians oppose same-sex marriage. Overall, 54% of the public views the issue of same-sex marriage as at least somewhat important, but just 30% say it is very important. Those who oppose gay marriage (38%) are more likely than supporters (27%) to view the issue as very important. More Support for Gay Marriage Among Those with Many Gay Acquaintances Allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally (%) How many people who are gay or lesbian do you know? A lot Some Only one or two None Total Conserv Rep Mod/Lib Rep Independent Cons/Mod Dem Liberal Dem View of same-sex Favor Oppose Survey conducted May 12-18, Oppose Favor More Opponents than Supporters View Same-Sex Marriage as Very Important % who say issue of same-sex marriage is very important Intensity about same-sex marriage is high and about equally so among those on the ends of the ideological spectrum: Four-in-ten conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats say the issue is very important. Know people who are gay or lesbian A lot Some One or two None Survey conducted May 12-18, 2015.

6 5 And while 45% of those with a lot of gay and lesbian acquaintances rate this issue as highly important, only about quarter of those with fewer gay acquaintances say the same. Other findings Partisans rate their parties. Most Republicans and Republican leaners (57%) say their party is not doing a good job of representing their views on same-sex marriage, and the party draws criticism from those on both sides of the issue. Republicans Dissatisfied with Party s Handling of Same-Sex Marriage % of Dems/leaners, Reps/leaners saying their party is doing representing their views on same-sex marriage Democratic Party Not a good job Good job By contrast, 62% of Democrats and All Dem/Dem lean Democratic leaners say their party is doing a good job of representing their views. View of same sex marriage Democratic supporters of same-sex marriage rate their party much more positively than do Favor (69%) Democratic opponents. Oppose (26%) Most say gay person s sexual orientation cannot be changed. Sixin-ten Americans (60%) say a gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation cannot be changed; just 33% say it can. In 2003, views on this measure were divided (42% can be changed, 42% cannot). All Rep/Rep lean View of same sex marriage Favor (41%) Republican Party Not a good job Good job More say people are born gay. Nearly half of the public (47%) says that people are born gay or lesbian, while 40% think being gay is a way people choose to live; 7% say it is a result of someone s upbringing. The share saying people are born gay has Oppose (56%) increased six points since There are stark differences between whites and blacks in these opinions. Whites are twice as likely as blacks to say that people are born gay (52% vs. 26%). 54 Survey conducted May 12-18, Don t know responses not shown. 31

7 6 Section 1: Changing Views of Same-Sex Marriage Support for same-sex marriage has increased substantially across virtually all demographic and partisan groups over the past decade. At the same time, there continue to be sharp differences in opinions about this issue by generation, partisanship and ideology, race and religion. Growing Support Across Generations for Same-Sex Marriage % who favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally 73 Millennial born after 1980 Millennials adults born since 1980 who are currently ages 18 to 34 continue to be far more supportive of same-sex marriage than older age cohorts. Today, 73% of Millennials say gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry legally, while just 24% say they should not. Gen Xers, the next youngest cohort, also support gay marriage, though by a narrower margin (59% favor, 39% oppose) Gen X Boomer Silent Among older cohorts, Boomers (ages 51 to 69) are currently divided (45% favor, 48% oppose), while Silents (ages 70-87) are the only generation in which significantly more oppose (53%) than favor (39%) gay marriage. But among both Boomers and Silents, support for same-sex marriage has increased over the past decade (nine percentage points among Boomers, 16 percentage points among Silents). Survey conducted May 12-18, figures based on all surveys conducted in each year. Within each age cohort, there are wide partisan differences in support for same-sex marriage. The gaps are particularly striking among older age cohorts, Silents and Boomers. Among Democrats and Democratic leaners in the Silent Generation, the balance of opinion about same-sex marriage has flipped over the past decade. In 2005, 53% of Silent Democrats opposed gay marriage, while just 31% favored it. Today, 54% support gay marriage and 34% are opposed.

8 7 Support for gay marriage among Silent Republicans and Republican leaners also has increased over the past decade (by 14 points). However, Silent Republicans oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally by three-to-one (72% to 24%). The share of Boomer Democrats who favor samesex marriage has increased nine percentage points since There has been a similar, 10-point rise among Boomer Republicans. However, while Boomer Democrats currently favor gay marriage by 60% to 34%, Boomer Republicans oppose it by a comparable margin (62% to 31%). Support for same-sex marriage among Republican Gen Xers and Millennials has increased dramatically over the past decade. Currently, 45% of Gen X Republicans and Republican leaners favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, roughly double the percentage as in 2005 (23%). Still, Gen X Democrats are 26 points more likely than Republicans of that generation to favor gay marriage (71%). Last year, the Pew Research Center found that a majority Partisan Gaps in Support for Same-Sex Marriage Seen Across Generations % who favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally Dem/Dem lean Rep/Rep lean Millennial (18-34) Gen X (35-50) Dem/Dem lean Rep/Rep lean Dem/Dem lean Rep/Rep lean Boomer (51-69) Silent (70-87) Dem/Dem lean Rep/Rep lean Survey conducted May 12-18, Trend for Millennials begins in 2006 because of insufficient sample sizes of Millennials by party in

9 8 of Republican Millennials supported same-sex marriage. That remains the case today: 59% support gay marriage, up from just 35% a decade ago. Among Democratic Millennials, 82% favor same-sex marriage, up 22 points over the past decade. Ten years ago, liberal Democrats were the only ideological group in which a majority supported same-sex marriage. Today, majorities of every ideological group except one conservative Republicans favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. Sharp Rise in Support for Gay Marriage in Middle of the Ideological Spectrum % who favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally To be sure, the share of conservative Republicans supporting same-sex marriage has doubled, from 10% to 22%, since However, three-quarters of conservative Republicans (75%) continue to oppose gay marriage. About six-in-ten moderate and liberal Republicans favor same-sex marriage (59%), up from 38% a decade ago. Like Republicans, Democrats are ideologically divided over same-sex marriage: 81% of liberal Democrats and 54% of conservative and moderate Democrats support same-sex marriage. This gap has narrowed somewhat from a decade ago, when 69% of liberal Democrats backed gay marriage, compared with only about a third (32%) of the party s conservatives and moderates. 81 Liberal Dem Independent 59 Mod/Lib Rep 46 Cons/Mod Dem Conserv Rep Survey conducted May 12-18, In 2005, political independents were divided on same-sex marriage: 46% favored it, while 43% were opposed. Today, about twice as many independents support (65%) as oppose (31%) gay marriage.

10 9 The share of blacks who support gay marriage has not changed significantly since 2012: 41% favor same-sex marriage today, while 51% oppose it; in 2012, 40% favored while 48% opposed. By contrast, over the past three years, support for gay marriage among whites has risen 10 points (from 49% to 59%). Blacks Far Less Likely than Whites to Support Same-Sex Marriage % who favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally White 59 Between 2005 and 2012, support for gay marriage rose at about the same rate among blacks and whites. Blacks support for samesex marriage increased 13 points, from 27% to 40%. Over the same period, there was an Hispanic Black identical 13-point rise in support among whites (from 37% to 50%). 27 Currently, a majority of Hispanics (56%) support same-sex marriage, while 38% are opposed. That is little changed from recent years, but nine years ago Hispanics were divided; 45% favored gay marriage while about as many (48%) were opposed Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Trend for Hispanics begins in 2006.

11 10 As in the past, religious groups are deeply divided about same-sex marriage. And adults who do not identify with an organized religion whose ranks are growing are more likely than those who affiliate with a religion to support gay marriage. Fully 85% of those who are religiously unaffiliated favor same-sex marriage, up from 60% in Majorities of white mainline Protestants (62%) and Catholics (56%) support same-sex marriage; a decade ago just 39% of both groups supported it. But just 33% of black Protestants and 27% of white evangelical Protestants favor same-sex marriage. Majorities of both groups (57% of black Protestants, 70% of white evangelicals) oppose gay marriage. Little Support for Gay Marriage Among Black Protestants, White Evangelicals % who favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally Religious affiliation Unaffiliated White mainline Catholic Black Protestant 27 White evangelical Attendance at religious services Less than weekly Weekly or more Opinion among black Protestants has changed relatively modestly over the past decade; in 2005, 25% favored gay marriage. And while support among white evangelical Protestants has increased 13 points (from 14% to 27%), white evangelicals oppose gay marriage by far greater than two-to-one. Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic. Overall, 68% of adults who attend religious services less than once a week favor gay marriage, compared with 34% who attend weekly or more. In 2005, 48% of less frequent attenders of religious services backed gay marriage, as did 19% of those who attended more frequently.

12 11 By a three-to-one margin (72%-24%), most Americans think that legal recognition of same-sex marriage is inevitable. While that is little changed from 2013, a greater share of the public expects gay marriage to be legally recognized today than did so in a 2004 survey by the L.A. Times (when 59% said this). More See Legal Recognition of Same- Sex Marriage as Inevitable Across generations there is a broad sense that same-sex marriage eventually will be legally recognized, though older Americans are somewhat less likely to say this. Nearly eightin-ten Millennials (78%), along with about seven-in-ten Gen Xers (72%) and Baby Boomers (71%), and 62% of those in the Silent generation say legal recognition is inevitable. College graduates (82%) and those with some college experience (79%) are more likely than adults with a high school education or less (59%) to say legal recognition of same-sex marriage is inevitable. % saying legal recognition of same-sex marriage is inevitable March 2004 May 2013 May Change % % % Total Millennial Generation X Boomer Silent College grad Some college H.S. or less Republican Democrat Independent As in 2013, similar percentages of Republicans (72%), Democrats (72%) and independents (74%) believe that legal same-sex marriage is inevitable. Republican views of same-sex marriage s inevitable legal recognition are up 25 points since 2004 (from 47%). Democrats today are about as likely to say same-sex marriage is inevitable as they were 11 years ago (72% vs. 67%). Same-sex marriage attitudes Favor Oppose Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. March 2004 from The Los Angeles Times. An overwhelming majority of same-sex marriage supporters (86%) say its legal recognition is inevitable, little changed from two years ago. Among opponents, just 50% say this; in 2013, opponents were nine points more likely to say same-sex marriage would eventually be recognized.

13 12 Just over half of the public says the issue of same-sex marriage is very (30%) or somewhat important (24%) to them. Twoin-ten (20%) say is not too important and 25% say it is not important to them at all. Supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage are equally likely to see the issue as at least somewhat important (56% each), but opponents are more likely than supporters to say it is very important (38% vs. 27%). However, those who feel strongly about the issue on both sides are particularly likely to say it is important. Among those who strongly favor gay marriage, 44% say it is a very important issue and just 11% say it is not important at all. And fully 53% of strong opponents say it is a very important issue to them. Republicans (33%) and Democrats (31%) are about equally likely to say same-sex marriage is very important to them. And 40% of both conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats say it is a very important issue. Religious, Ideological Divides on Importance of Same-Sex Marriage % saying issue of same-sex marriage is Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not important at all DK/Ref % % % % % Total =100 Men =100 Women =100 White =100 Black =100 Hispanic =100 Millennial *=100 Generation X =100 Boomer =100 Silent =100 Republican =100 Conserv =100 Mod/Lib =100 Independent *=100 Democrat =100 Cons/Mod =100 Liberal =100 Same-sex marriage attitudes NET Favor =100 Strongly favor *=100 Favor =100 NET Oppose =100 Oppose =100 Strongly oppose =100 Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race.

14 13 Millennials (34%) are more likely than those in older generations (29%) to see same-sex marriage as a very important issue. In addition, women (35%) are more likely than men (25%) to say it is very important.

15 14 Section 2: Knowing Gays and Lesbians, Religious Conflicts, Beliefs about Homosexuality As support for same-sex marriage has increased, other attitudes about homosexuality have changed as well. Majorities now say homosexuality should be accepted by society (63%) and that the sexual orientation of a gay or lesbian person cannot be changed (60%). Nearly half (47%) say that people are born gay or lesbian. These opinions represent a shift over the past decade, even if in some cases the short-term changes have been modest. In addition, a 54% majority says there is no conflict between their own religious beliefs and homosexuality, up from 48% in However, the view that homosexuality and one s personal religious beliefs are in conflict remains a powerful factor in opposition to same-sex marriage. An overwhelming majority of the public (88%) reports personally knowing someone who is gay or lesbian. That is little changed since 2013, but much higher than in the early 1990s. Though the vast majority of Americans say they know gays or lesbians, just over a quarter (28%) say they know a lot of people who are gay or lesbian, while 43% say they know some and 17% say they only know one or two gays or lesbians. Slightly more people now say they know a lot of gays or lesbians than did so two years ago. And, as in 2013, about half (52%) have a close family member or one of their closest friends who is gay or lesbian. Overwhelming Majority of Americans Know People Who are Gay or Lesbian Do you personally know anyone who is gay or lesbian? June May May 1993* % % % Diff Yes How many people who are gay or lesbian do you know? A lot Some Only one or two None/Don t know Have close family members or friends who are gay or lesbian? Yes No/Don t know Survey conducted May 12-18, Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding. *June 1993 survey by NBC News/Wall Street Journal.

16 15 While large majorities of almost all demographic and partisan groups say they know someone who is gay or lesbian, there are differences in both the number of gay and lesbian acquaintances people have and in whether people say they have close family members or friends who are gay. Millennials are among the most likely of any demographic or partisan group to say they know a lot of people who are gay or lesbian: Nearly four-in-ten (38%) say so, compared with fewer Gen Xers (28%), Boomers (22%) and Silents (15%). And about twice as many Silents say they do not know any gays or lesbians (21%) as members of any other generation. Younger, Urban Americans More Likely to Say They Know Many Gays or Lesbians How many gays and lesbians do you know? (%) A lot Some Only 1-2 None Total Men Women White Black Hispanic Close friends or family members who are gay or lesbian? (%) Millennials and Xers are also somewhat more likely than Boomers and particularly Silents to say they have close family members or friends who are gay. There are differences by religious affiliation in the number of gays and lesbians people know. Fully four-in-ten (40%) of those who are not affiliated with a religion say they personally know a lot of gays and lesbians, while 8% say they know none. By contrast, just 23% of Catholics, 21% of white mainline Protestants and 17% of white evangelical Millennial Generation X Boomer Silent Republican Democrat Independent White evang Prot White mainline Prot Black Protestant Catholic Unaffiliated Urban Suburban Rural Survey conducted May 12-18, Don t know responses not shown. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race

17 16 Protestants report having a lot of gay and lesbian acquaintances. There are also similar if somewhat more modest differences across religious groups in those who report having close friends and family members who are gay. About a third of Democrats (34%) say they know a lot of gays and lesbians, compared with just 18% of Republicans. And while 57% of Democrats (and 54% of independents) have a gay or lesbian close family member or friend, 46% of Republicans say this. There are also divides by community type: People who live in urban areas (32%) are more likely to know a lot of people who are gay and lesbian than those who live in suburban (27%) or rural (20%) communities. About three-quarters (73%) of those who know a lot of gays and lesbians and two-thirds (66%) of those who have gay or lesbian close friends or family members say they support same-sex marriage. And nearly half (48%) of Americans with many gay acquaintances, and 38% of those who have close friends or family who are gay, strongly favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. There is far less support for same-sex marriage among those with few or no gay or lesbian acquaintances, as well as among those who do not have close friends or family members who are gay or lesbian. Just 32% of those who do not have any gay or lesbian acquaintances favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry and 58% oppose (30% say they strongly oppose same-sex marriage). Personally Knowing Gays and Lesbians Strongly Associated With Support for Same-Sex Marriage Do you favor or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally? NET Favor Strongly NET favor Favor Oppose Strongly oppose Oppose % % % % % % Total How many people who are gay or lesbian do you know? A lot (28%) Some (43%) Only one or two (17%) None/Don t know (13%) Thinking about your close family members and closest friends, are any of them gay or lesbian? Yes (52%) No/Don t know (48%) Survey conducted May 12-18, Figures read across. Don t know responses not shown.

18 17 A majority of the public (54%) says there is no conflict between their religious beliefs and homosexuality. About four-in-ten (43%) say there is a lot (33%) or a little (10%) conflict. Conflict between religious beliefs and homosexuality is felt particularly strongly by white evangelical Protestants, about seven-in-ten (72%) of whom say there is a conflict, including 64% who say there is a lot of conflict. Six-in-ten black Protestants say there is either a lot (48%) or a little (12%) conflict between their religious beliefs and homosexuality, while 53% of Catholics feel that their religious beliefs and homosexuality are in some conflict (38% say there is a lot of conflict). By comparison, just 36% of white mainline Protestants and 10% of those without religious affiliation (10%) feel such a conflict. Attendance at religious services is also associated with feelings of conflict between religious beliefs and homosexuality. Among those who go to services at least weekly, 61% say there is a conflict between their beliefs and homosexuality (51% perceive a lot of conflict). Roughly one-third of lessfrequent attenders (34%) feel there is such a conflict, 64% do not. Nearly Two-Thirds of White Evangelicals See a Lot of Conflict Between Homosexuality and Religious Beliefs % saying there is a conflict between their religious beliefs and homosexuality... Total White evang Prot White mainline Prot Black Protestant Catholic Unaffiliated Attend services Weekly or more Less than weekly A lot A little No conflict Survey conducted May 12-18, Other/don t know responses not shown Net Conflict

19 18 When asked about possible reasons why people are gay or lesbian, 47% say people are born gay or lesbian, while slightly fewer (40%) say it s just the way some people choose to live; relatively few (7%) say being gay or lesbian is a result of a person s upbringing. Modest Differences Across Generations About Why People Are Gay Or Lesbian Which comes closer to your view to your view (%) People are born gay or lesbian Total Men Women Result of person's upbringing Just the way some choose to live DK Over the past two years, the share saying people are born gay or lesbian has edged up six points. In May 2013, as many said people are born gay or lesbian (41%) as said it is just the way some people choose to live (42%). As with other attitudes on homosexuality, there are substantial racial, partisan and religious differences on why people are gay or lesbian. But the generational differences in these opinions are relatively modest. About half of Millennials (51%) say people are born gay or lesbian compared with 47% of those in Generation X and the Silent Generation, and 44% of Baby Boomers. White Black Hispanic Millennial Generation X Boomer Silent College grad+ Some college HS or less Republican Democrat Independent White evang Prot White mainline Prot Black Protestant Catholic Unaffiliated Homosexuality should be... Accepted (63%) Discouraged (30%) Survey conducted May 12-18, Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding

20 19 There are striking differences between blacks and whites over why people are gay or lesbian. About six-in-ten blacks (61%) say being gay is just the way some choose to live; just 26% say people are born gay or lesbian. By contrast, more whites say people are born gay or lesbian (52%) than say it is a lifestyle choice (36%). Among Hispanics, about as many say people are born gay (46%) as say it s a choice (40%). College graduates are far more likely than those with less education to say that people are born gay or lesbian: 61% of college graduates say this, compared with 46% of those with some college experience and 39% of those with no college experience. Comparable percentages of Democrats (55%) and independents (53%) say people are born gay or lesbian; about four-in-ten in each group say it s just the way some people choose to live (37% of Democrats, 35% of independents). The reverse is true among Republicans: 50% say being gay or lesbian is just the way some people choose to live, compared with 34% who say people are born homosexual. Identical majorities of white evangelical Protestants and black Protestants (62% each) say being gay or lesbian is just the way some people choose to live. By contrast, most white mainline Protestants (60%) say people are born homosexual, as do 53% of Catholics. Among the religiously unaffiliated, more see homosexuality as the way people are born than a lifestyle choice by a wide 64%-24% margin.

21 20 A majority of Americans (60%) say they do not think a gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation can be changed; about half as many (33%) say they think it can be changed. Growing Share Say Gay Person s Sexual Orientation Cannot Be Changed Can a gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation be changed (%) The share saying a gay person s sexual orientation cannot be changed has increased 18 points since 2003 (from 42%), and nine points in the past three years alone (from 51%) No Yes DK Survey conducted May 12-18, Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding.

22 21 Opinions about whether a gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation can be changed largely mirror views of whether or not someone is born gay. Overall, 70% of Democrats and 62% of independents say they do not think a gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation can be changed, up nine points and 14 points, respectively, since By contrast, about as many Republicans say a gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation can be changed (45%) as say it cannot be changed (47%); views among Republicans are little changed since Among religious groups, 71% of white mainline Protestants and 68% of Catholics say homosexuality cannot be changed. Majorities of black Protestants (56%) and white evangelical Protestants (55%) say a gay person s sexual orientation can be changed. Adults with no religious affiliation are among the most likely to say that a gay person s sexual orientation cannot be changed: 79% express this view, while just 18% say homosexuality can be changed. Republicans Divided Over Whether Homosexuality Can Be Changed A gay or lesbian person s sexual orientation Can be Cannot be changed changed DK % % % Total =100 White =100 Black =100 Hispanic =100 Millennial =100 Generation X =100 Boomer =100 Silent =100 College grad =100 Some college =100 HS or less =100 Republican =100 Democrat =100 Independent =100 White evang Prot =100 White mainline Prot =100 Black Protestant =100 Catholic =100 Unaffiliated =100 Reason people are homosexual Born that way (47%) =100 Upbringing (7%) =100 Lifestyle choice (40%) =100 Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding.

23 22 Most Americans (57%) say they would not be upset if they had a child who told them he or she was gay or lesbian; 39% say they would be upset about this, including 17% who say they would be very upset. Views on this question are little changed over the past two years, but they have shifted dramatically since the question was first asked 30 years ago. Most Say They Would Not Be Upset If They Learned Their Child Was Gay If you had a child who told you he or she was gay or lesbian, what would your reaction be (%) Very upset Somewhat upset Not upset DK A 1985 Los Angeles Times poll found fully 89% said they would be either very upset (64%) or somewhat upset (25%) if their child told them he or she was gay or lesbian. By 2000, the share saying they would be upset about having a gay child had fallen to 73%, and by 2013 just 25 9 Dec June March May May % said they would be upset if a child of theirs said he or she was gay. Survey conducted May 12-18, data from L.A. Times surveys.

24 23 Reactions to the prospect of having a gay child are linked to other attitudes about homosexuality. For instance, 77% of those who say that homosexuals are born gay or lesbian would not be upset if they learned that their child was gay or lesbian. Nearly six-in-ten (58%) of those who view homosexuality as a lifestyle choice say they would be upset if their child disclosed that he or she was gay. Racial, partisan and religious differences on this measure are substantial, as they are with other attitudes toward homosexuality. However, generational differences in reactions to the prospect of a gay child are much wider than in opinions about whether or not a gay person is born that way, or whether a gay person s sexual orientation can be changed. Nearly twice as many Silents (55%) as Millennials (29%) say they would be upset if they had a child tell them that he or she was gay or lesbian. Most Silents Would Be Upset By Having Gay Child; Most Millennials Would Not If you had a child who told you he or she was gay or lesbian, what would your reaction be Very Not Upset upset upset DK % % % % Total =100 White =100 Black =100 Hispanic =100 Millennial =100 Generation X =100 Boomer =100 Silent =100 Republican =100 Democrat =100 Independent =100 White evang Prot =100 White mainline Prot =100 Black Protestant =100 Catholic =100 Unaffiliated =100 Reason people are homosexual Born that way (47%) =100 Upbringing (7%) =100 Lifestyle choice (40%) =100 Know people who are gay or lesbian Have close friends/family (52%) =100 Have acquaintances but not friends/family (34%) =100 Don t know any (12%) =100 Survey conducted May 12-18, Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding.

25 24 More than six-in-ten Americans (63%) say homosexuality should be accepted by society, while 30% say homosexuality should be discouraged. The share saying homosexuality should be accepted has grown steadily over the last decade; in 2003, the public was split on this question (47% accepted, 45% discouraged). Today, about three-quarters of Democrats (74%) think homosexuality should be accepted, up from 66% in 2013 and 56% in Fully 87% of liberal Democrats say society should accept homosexuality, compared with 66% of conservative and moderate Democrats. Among Republicans, 40% think homosexuality should be accepted and 54% say it should be discouraged relatively unchanged since While three-in-ten conservative Republicans (30%) say it should be accepted by society, about twice as many moderate and liberal Republicans (63%) say this. Growing Percentage Says Homosexuality Should be Accepted by Society % saying homosexuality should be accepted or discouraged by society June 2003 March 2013 May 2015 Dis- Dis- Dis Accepteeeeeed courag- Acceptcourag- Acceptcourag- Change in Accepted' % % % % % % Total Men Women Millennial Generation X Boomer Silent Republican Conserv Mod/Lib Independent Democrat Cons/Mod Liberal White evang Prot White mainline Prot Catholic Unaffiliated Survey conducted May 12-18, Don t know responses not shown. Younger generations are more accepting of homosexuality in society: 78% of Millennials, 65% of Gen Xers and 55% of Boomers say homosexuality should be accepted, while Silents are split (45% accepted, 42% discouraged).

MAY 7, 2013 45% Say Muslim Americans Face A Lot of Discrimination After Boston, Little Change in Views of Islam and Violence FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE APRIL 7, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Rachel Weisel, Communications Associate 202.419.4372

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012 Those Aware of Fracking Favor Its Use As Gas Prices Pinch, Support for Oil and Gas Production Grows FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Kohut President, Pew Research Center Carroll

DECEMBER 14, 2012 Israel Support Unchanged in Wake of Gaza Conflict Public Says U.S. Does Not Have Responsibility to Act in Syria FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Kohut President, Pew Research Center

MARCH 20, 2013 Growing Support for Gay Marriage: Changed Minds and Changing Demographics FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS Michael Dimock Director Carroll

JULY 26, 2013 But More Approve than Disapprove Few See Adequate Limits on NSA Surveillance Program FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS Michael Dimock Director

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE APRIL 2, 2014 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Carroll Doherty, Director, Political Research Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Senior Researcher Rob

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 19, 2015 BY Aaron Smith FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Aaron Smith, Associate Director, Research Dana Page, Senior Communications

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2010 Majority Continues to Favor Gays Serving Openly in Military Support For Same-Sex Marriage Edges Upward FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pew Research Center for the People & the

APRIL 4, 2013 Majority Now Supports Legalizing Marijuana FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS Michael Dimock Director Carroll Doherty Associate Director Seth

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 Further Decline in Credibility Ratings for Most News Organizations FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Kohut President, Pew Research Center Carroll Doherty and Michael Dimock

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE JANUARY 28, 2016 FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director, Research Bridget

JANUARY 6, 2012 More Concern among Opponents about Wrongful Convictions Continued Majority Support for Death Penalty FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Kohut President, Pew Research Center Carroll

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE MARCH 28, 2016 FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Bridget Jameson, Communications Associate 202.419.4372

Issue Ranks Lower on the Agenda SUPPORT FOR ABORTION SLIPS Results from the 2009 Annual Religion and Public Life Survey FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Luis Lugo Director

A Shifting Landscape 2003 Massachussetts becomes first state in the union to legalize same-sex marriage A Decade of Change in American Attitudes about Same-sex Marriage and LGBT Issues 17 states and the

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE JANUARY 23, 2014 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Senior Researcher

THE FIELD POLL THE INDEPENDENT AND NON-PARTISAN SURVEY OF PUBLIC OPINION ESTABLISHED IN 1947 AS THE CALIFORNIA POLL BY MERVIN FIELD Field Research Corporation 601 California Street, Suite 900 San Francisco,

MONDAY, JULY 16, Just Over Half Know Where the Candidates Stand Raising Taxes on Rich Seen as Good for Economy, Fairness FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Kohut President, Pew Research Center Carroll

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE: February 11, 2016 BY Aaron Smith FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Aaron Smith, Associate Director, Research Dana Page, Senior Communications Manager

1 NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE November 4, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Kim Parker, Director of Social Trends Research Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Associate Director

Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Part I: What the Survey Found 4 Introduction: American Identity & Values 10 Year after September 11 th 4 Racial, Ethnic, & Religious Minorities in the U.S. 5 Strong

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD EMBARGOED COPY NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION UNTIL 10 a.m. EDT, FEB. 11, 2016 FOR RELEASE: February 11, 2016 BY Aaron Smith FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES:

1 OVERVIEW American Jews overwhelmingly say they are proud to be Jewish and have a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people, according to a major new survey by the Pew Research Center. But the survey

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 3, 2014 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Aaron Smith, Senior Researcher 202.419.4372 RECOMMENDED CITATION: Pew Research Center, November,

An extensive new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life details the religious affiliation of the American public and explores the shifts taking place in the U.S. religious landscape. Based on

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 15, 2015 Views of Government s Handling of Terrorism Fall to Post-9/11 Low Little change in views of relationship between Islam and violence

FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 200, 4:00PM NYC Mosque Opposed, Muslims Right to Build Mosques Favored Public Remains Conflicted Over Islam FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pew Research Center for the

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE AUGUST 19, 2015 BY Maeve Duggan FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Maeve Duggan, Research Associate Dana Page, Senior Communications Manager

Research Highlights LONG-TERM CARE IN AMERICA: AMERICANS OUTLOOK AND PLANNING FOR FUTURE CARE INTRODUCTION In the next 25 years, the U.S. population is expected to include 82 million Americans over the

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2009 Most Still Oppose Same-Sex Marriage MAJORITY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT CIVIL UNIONS Results from the 2009 Annual Religion and Public Life Survey FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

THE FIELD POLL THE INDEPENDENT AND NON-PARTISAN SURVEY OF PUBLIC OPINION ESTABLISHED IN 1947 AS THE CALIFORNIA POLL BY MERVIN FIELD Field Research Corporation 601 California Street, Suite 900 San Francisco,

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE FEB. 3, 2016 FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research Gregory A. Smith, Associate Director, Research Besheer Mohamed,

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE July 14, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Amy Mitchell, Director of Journalism Research Dana Page, Communications Manager 202.419.4372

Chapter 7 Ideology and Policy Issues The relationship between the religious characteristics of Hispanics and their political views often closely mirrors the relationship between religion and politics among

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 Politics on Social Networking Sites Campaign and policy-related material on SNS plays a modest role in influencing most users views and political activities. Democrats and liberals are

CBS NEWS POLL For release: June 9, 2010 7:00 AM EDT VIEWS OF GAYS AND LESBIANS May 20-24, 2010 The percentage of Americans that know someone who is gay or lesbian has nearly doubled over the past 18 years.

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE JULY 07, 2016 FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director, Research Bridget Johnson,

THE FIELD POLL THE INDEPENDENT AND NON-PARTISAN SURVEY OF PUBLIC OPINION ESTABLISHED IN 1947 AS THE CALIFORNIA POLL BY MERVIN FIELD Field Research Corporation 601 California Street, Suite 900 San Francisco,

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE MARCH 10, 2016 BY Aaron Smith FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Aaron Smith, Associate Director, Research Dana Page, Senior Communications Manager 202.419.4372

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE NOV. 6, 2014 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Alan Cooperman, Director, Religion Research Greg Smith, Associate Director, Research Becka Alper,

Eagleton Institute of Politics Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 191 Ryders Lane New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-8557 www.eagleton.rutgers.edu eagleton@rci.rutgers.edu 732-932-9384 Fax: 732-932-6778

HOW RACE AND RELIGION SHAPE MILLENNIAL ATTITUDES ON SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Robert P. Jones and Daniel Cox HOW RACE AND RELIGION SHAPE MILLENNIAL ATTITUDES ON SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Eagleton Institute of Politics Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 191 Ryders Lane New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-8557 www.eagleton.rutgers.edu eagleton@rci.rutgers.edu 732-932-9384 Fax: 732-932-6778

JUNE 10, 2013 Public Says Investigate Terrorism, Even If It Intrudes on Privacy Majority Views NSA Phone Tracking as Acceptable Anti-Terror Tactic A Pew Research Center/Washington Post Survey FOR FURTHER

major survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that most Americans have a A non-dogmatic approach to faith. A strong majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, including majorities

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD APRIL 3, 2014 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Aaron Smith, Senior Researcher 202.419.4500 RECOMMENDED CITATION: Pew Research Center, April 2014, Older

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE NOV. 3, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research Gregory A. Smith, Associate Director, Research

JULY 29, 2013 Widening Regional Divide over Abortion Laws FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS Michael Dimock Director Carroll Doherty Associate Director Rob

www.pewresearch.org AUGUST 26, 2013 Home Broadband 2013 Some 70% of American adults have a high-speed broadband connection at home; an additional 10% of Americans lack home broadband but do own a smartphone.

www.pewresearch.org JUNE 10, 2013 Tablet Ownership 2013 Tablet adoption has almost doubled over the past year. For the first time a third (34%) of American adults now own a tablet computer, including almost

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD OCTOBER 8, 2015 Social Media Usage: 2005-2015 65% of adults now use social networking sites a nearly tenfold jump in the past decade BY Andrew Perrin FOR FURTHER

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD June 26, 2015 BY Andrew Perrin AND Maeve Duggan FOR MEDIA AND OTHER INQUIRIES: Lee Rainie, Director Internet, Science and Technology Research Maeve Duggan, Research

www.pewresearch.org FEBRUARY 14, 2013 The Demographics of Social Media Users 2012 Young adults are more likely than older adults to use social media. Women, African- Americans, and Latinos show high interest

Americans and their cell phones Mobile devices help people solve problems and stave off boredom, but create some new challenges and annoyances Aaron Smith, Senior Research Specialist 8/15/2011 http://pewinternet.org/reports/2011/cell-phones.aspx

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD JANUARY 09, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Maeve Duggan, Research Analyst, Pew Research Center Nicole B. Ellison, Associate Professor, University

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL For release: Monday, May 14th, 2012 6:30 pm (ET) The Presidential Election, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Economy May 11-13, 2012 The race for president remains close, but Republican

Search and email still top the list of most popular online activities Two activities nearly universal among adult internet users Kristen Purcell, Associate Director for Research, Pew Internet Project August

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 23, 2015 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director, Research